Advance Banners: English Warfare in the 15th Century Volume I: 1397 to 1425

This book, and its companion volumes, explore English Warfare in the fifteenth century. As such, it describes, where possible, the planning, logistics, preparation, and execution for both individual battles and sieges, as well as entire campaigns. It involves both internal warfare within England itself (civil war), as well as the English fighting in Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Burgundy and Brittany. The narrative begins in 1397, which is distinctly not part of the fifteenth century. But in order to understand the Lancastrian revolution, and what motivated the man who would become Henry IV, it is necessary to understand a little about his predecessor, and the tyranny that Richard II promoted. So, Volume I of this reference work starts in 1397, when Richard II’s absolutism gained a full head of steam. A little over two years later, Richard II was deposed, and the Lancastrian dynasty began. Volume I includes the entire reigns of both Henry IV and Henry V, and the first few years of the reign of the toddler king, Henry VI. It covers the suppression of the Welsh, the Percy uprisings, intermittent conflicts with the French and the Scots, and the invasion of France. Thus, Volume I covers over 30 battles and over a dozen major sieges. These include all of the iconic battles of that period: Shrewsbury, Agincourt, Baugé, Cravant, and Verneuil, the naval battle of the Seine, as well as dozens of other battles and sieges, some virtually forgotten in most history books.